Handy hand walking cane

ABSTRACT

A walking instrument is provided consisting of a shaft, a clamping mechanism and a gripping mechanism. The shaft consists of a top portion and a bottom portion. The clamping mechanism is connected to the top portion of the shaft and allows the user to attach said walking instrument to a fixed object. The gripping mechanism is connected to bottom portion of the shaft and allows the user to grasp an object.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention generally relates to walking instruments, and moreparticularly to a walking instrument that enables the user to pick upitems that may be in his or her way, and that also allows the user toattach the walking instrument to a fixed object so that is easy to reachwhen the time comes to use it again.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Unfortunately, many people need the use of walking instruments to getaround. Typically, those that need the use of said instruments areelderly, or suffer from some other physical ailment that inhibits theirability to walk, much less bend over.

Imagine for instance, walking into a store or restaurant and droppingsomething on the floor. Or imagine getting to your desired destinationwith the help of your walking instrument, and as you are sitting down,the instrument crashes to the floor and the user is unable to pick itup.

Accordingly, it would appreciated that it would be highly desirable tohave a device that allows the user to pick up items without having tobend over, a device that attaches to a fixed object so that it is easyto retrieve, and that can still function as a walking instrument.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of theproblems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to one aspect ofthe invention, a walking instrument having a shaft, a clamping meansconnected to the top end of the shaft, and a gripping means connected tothe bottom end of said shaft.

These and other aspects, objects, features, and advantages of thepresent invention will be more clearly understood from a review of thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appendedclaims, as well as by reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of a preferred embodiment of a walking instrumentaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the similar to FIG. 1, butwith portions cut away illustrating the mechanism by which the preferredembodiments are constructed.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, but illustratinganother preferred embodiment of a walking instrument construed inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 illustratinganother preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, in which like elements throughout theseveral figures, FIG. 1 illustrates a walking instrument 10 that has ashaft 12 that is connected to a handle 14 on one end, and a stopper 16at the other end. The walking instrument 10 includes a clampingapparatus 18 attached to the shaft 12. The clamping apparatus 18,consists of a top member 20 and a bottom member 22. The top member 20 isattached to the shaft 12 and is able to slide up and down relative tothe shaft 12. The top member 20 also consists of first and secondopenings 24 a-b, defining a handhold 23 of sufficient size so as toenable the user's fingers to pass through them. The bottom member 22 isalso connected to said shaft 12, and is stationary. The shaft 12 has avertical slot 21 wherein the top member 20 is able to slide. The walkinginstrument 10 also includes a gripping apparatus 26 connected to theshaft 12. The gripping apparatus includes a hook 28 also connected toshaft 12.

Referring to FIG. 2, the handle 14 is connected to the upper end of theshaft 12. The handle 14 is located above the top member 20 of theclamping apparatus 18, and more particularly, above the handhold 23 soas to enable the user to use the walking instrument with one hand. Acoil spring 15 is housed inside the shaft 12 and is connected to thebottom portion of the handle 14 and the upper portion of the top member20 of the clamping apparatus 18. The location of the coil spring 15allows the top member 20 of the clamping apparatus 18 to move towards oraway from the bottom member 22 of the clamping apparatus. Inside theshaft 12, there exists a rod 30, which connects the clamping apparatus18 to the gripping apparatus 26. The upper end of the rod 30 isconnected to the top member 20 of the clamping apparatus 18. The lowerend of the rod 30 is connected to the gripping apparatus 26. The lowerend of the hook 28, shown here in the resting position, of the grapplingapparatus 26, contains several notched ends at its terminus 32 a-c whichcoincide with complimentary notched ends 34 a-c located inside the shaft12. The complimentary notched ends 34 a-c are also connected to the rod30.

Referring to FIG. 3 a preferred embodiment of the invention isillustrated wherein the user places his or her hand on the handle 14 andplaces two fingers into the first and second openings 24 a-b, of thehandhold 23 located on the top member 20 of the clamping apparatus 18.As the user pulls up with his or her two fingers, the top member 20 ofthe clamping apparatus 18, separates from the bottom member 22 of theclamping apparatus and slides upward along the vertical slot 21. Theupward pulling motion also causes the spring 15 to coil. The continuedupward motion also causes the rod 30, contained inside the shaft 12 topull upwards as well. As the rod 30 pulls upward, the notched ends 34a-c, connected to the lower end of the rod 30, latch into thecomplimentary notched ends of the terminus ends 32 a-h of the hook 28,causing the hook 28 to be pulled down towards the stopper 16.

Referring to FIG. 4, another preferred embodiment of the invention isillustrated wherein the user places his or her two fingers in the firstand second openings 24 a-b of the handhold 23, located on the top member20 of the clamping apparatus 18, and has pulled in an upward position asillustrated in FIG. 3. The top member 20 of the clamping apparatus 18 ispulled away from the stationary bottom member 22 of the clampingapparatus 18, allowing the walking instrument 10 to attach to a fixedobject 38 such as a table as illustrated. The walking instrument 10 isheld in place by the top member 20 of the clamping apparatus 18 affixingto the upper side 44 of the fixed object 38, and the stationary bottommember 22 of the clamping apparatus 18 affixing to the lower side 46 ofthe fixed object 38. To retrieve the walking instrument 10 away from thefixed object 38, the user places his her fingers in the first and secondopenings 24 a-b of the handhold 23 located on the top member 20 of theclamping apparatus 18 and pulls upward and away from the fixed object38.

1. A walking instrument, comprising: a shaft having a top end portionand a bottom end portion; a clamping mechanism connected to said top endportion of said shaft and adapted to attach said walking instrument to afixed object; and a gripping mechanism connected to said bottom end ofsaid shaft and adapted to grasp an object.
 2. A walking instrument, asset forth in claim 1, wherein said clamping mechanism includes a topmember having a first and second opening defining a hand hold and beingslidably movable relative to said shaft, and a stationary bottom member.3. A walking instrument, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said shaft hasa vertical slot and said top member slides in said slot.
 4. A walkinginstrument, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said first handhold openingprotrudes from a first side of said shaft and said second handholdprotrudes from a second side of said shaft.
 5. A walking instrument, asset forth in claim 2, including a coil spring in said shaft above saidtop member biasing said top member toward said bottom member.
 6. Awalking instrument, as set forth in claim 2 including a handle on saidtop end of said shaft above said handhold so that a user can grasp saidhandle and said handhold with one hand.
 7. A walking instrument, as setforth in claim 1 wherein said gripping mechanism includes a hook adaptedto grasp an object and a rod coupled to said hook.
 8. A walkinginstrument, as set forth in claim 7 wherein said rod moves up and downin said shaft and said hook moves between a closed position and an openposition.
 9. A walking instrument, as set forth in claim 7 wherein saidrod is inside said shaft.
 10. A walking instrument, as set forth inclaim 7 wherein said rod is connected to said clamping mechanism.
 11. Awalking instrument, as set forth in claim 10, wherein said rod couplessaid clamping mechanism with said gripping mechanism.
 12. A walkinginstrument, as set forth in claim 7 wherein said hook includes a seriesof notched ends.
 13. A walking instrument comprising: a shaft having atop end portion and a bottom end portion; and a clamping mechanismconnected to said top end portion of said shaft and adapted to attachsaid walking instrument to a fixed object.
 14. A walking instrument asset forth in claim 13 wherein said clamping mechanism includes a topmember having a first and second opening defining a handhold and beingslidably movable relative to said shaft, and a stationary bottom member.15. A walking instrument as set forth in claim 13 wherein said shaft hasa vertical slot and said top member slides in said slot and wherein saidfirst handhold opening protrudes from a first side of said shaft andsaid second handhold protrudes from a second side of said shaft.
 16. Awalking instrument as set forth in claim 13 including a coil spring insaid shaft above said top member biasing said top member toward saidbottom member and including a handle on said top end of said shaft abovesaid handhold so that a user can grasp said handle and said handholdwith one hand.
 17. A walking instrument comprising: a shaft having a topend portion and a bottom end portion; and a gripping mechanism connectedto said bottom end of said shaft and adapted to grasp a movable object.18. A walking instrument as set forth in claim 17, wherein said grippingmechanism includes a hook adapted to grasp an object and a rod coupledto said hook and wherein said rod moves up and down inside said shaftand said hook moves between an open and closed position.
 19. A walkinginstrument as set forth in claim 17 wherein said rod is inside saidshaft and said rod is connected to said clamping mechanism.
 20. Awalking instrument as set forth in claim 17 wherein said rod couplessaid clamping mechanism with said gripping mechanism.